Search

Importance: Although the role of bovine coronavirus (BCoV) in calf diarrhea and respiratory disorders is well documented, its contribution to neurological diseases is unclear. Objective: This study conducted virological investigations of calves showing diarrhea and respiratory and neurological signs. Methods: An outbreak of diarrhea, respiratory, and neurological disorders occurred among the 12 calves in July 2022 in Istanbul, Türkiye. Two of these calves exhibited neurological signs and died a few days after the appearance of symptoms. One of these calves was necropsied and analyzed using molecular and histopathological tests. Results: BCoV RNA was detected in the brain, lung, spleen, liver, and intestine of the calf that had neurological signs by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Immunostaining was also observed in the intestine and brain. A 622 bp S1 gene product was noted on gel electrophoresis only in the brain. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the BCoV detected in this study had a high proximity to the BCoV strain GIb with 99.19% nucleotide sequence homology to the strains detected in Poland, Israel, Türkiye, and France. No distinct genetic lineages were observed when the brain isolate was compared with the respiratory and enteric strains reported to GenBank. In addition, the highest identity (98,72%) was obtained with the HECV 4408 and L07748 strains of human coronaviruses. Conclusions and Relevance: The strain detected in a calf brain belongs to the GIb-European lineage and shares high sequence homology with BCoV strains detected in Europe and Israel. In addition, the similarity between the human coronaviruses (4408 and L07748) raises questions about the zoonotic potential of the strains detected in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fowl adenovirus-4 is a causative agent of hydropericardium hepatitis syndrome (HHS) in chickens and has been frequently reported from many countries. Fowl adenoviruses cause severe disease and mortality in broiler and layer breeders in Azerbaijan. Therefore, in this study, pathological lesions and the dissemination of fowl adenovirus-4 into the visceral organs of infected birds were investigated as well as molecular characterisation of detected strains. For this, liver, heart and spleen from 20 necropsied chickens originated from a broiler breeder flock and a layer breeder flock were embeded on the FTA cards and the samples were analysed for adenovirus-DNA by PCR and sequencing. Results: The findings of necropsy in both broiler and layer breeder chickens were similar, and the liver was severely effected showing hepatitis, and the heart with hydropericardium lesions. The kidneys were swollen with haemorrhages and small white foci on the surface of the spleens were noted. Intestinal congestion and ecchymotic hemorrhages were also observed in some birds. Fowl adenovirus-4-DNA was detected by PCR in all collected organs of 20 birds. The sequence analysis revealed that fowl adenovirus-4 present in Azerbaijan and close similarity of the hexon genes of the adenoviruses existing in the Middle East, North America, far east and Indian subcontinent were determined by phylogenetic analysis. However, sequence diversity was detected from the adenovirus strains circulating in Europe, North and South America. Conclusions: This study indicates the impact of fowl adenovirus-4 on the poultry health and production, and improved disease control and prevention strategies are necessary to reduce the HHS disease in chickens in Azerbaijan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fowl adenovirus can cause important diseases in chickens such as inclusion body hepatitis, hepatitis hydropericardium syndrome, and gizzard erosion and ulceration. Inclusion body hepatitis has been regularly reported from many countries. This is the first case report from Turkey, describing an outbreak of inclusion body hepatitis in broiler farms due to fowl adenovirus-8b (FAdV-8b).